Fancy Dress in the UK
A costume for the themed party that is better than the supermarket's, World Book Day sorted the night before, Halloween for the whole family, a proper hired outfit for the murder mystery, a wig and the make-up to go with it, or matching outfits for the stag do: find a local fancy dress shop people love.
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Guides & advice for fancy dress
Finding a good fancy dress shop in the UK
A fancy dress shop is racks of costumes to buy and, at the good ones, rails of better costumes to hire: decades and eras, film and television characters, superheroes, animals, historical, horror, uniforms and professions, and the accessories — wigs, hats, masks, make-up, weapons, tights and shoes — that make a costume rather than a T-shirt. Hire suits the one-off party where you want to look the part: a proper Victorian gown, a full gorilla suit or a period military uniform for a few days, returned afterwards. Buying suits Halloween, children's dressing up and anything you will wear again.
The seasons drive the trade: Halloween from September, World Book Day in early March, Christmas and New Year, and the stag, hen, birthday and festival parties all year. The shops know their calendar and stock up, but the popular sizes and characters go early, so order or reserve ahead for a group or a specific character. A good shop fits the costume, suggests the accessories, and keeps the children's sizes and the adult larger sizes the internet forgets.
The listings here show each shop's reviews, hire and sale ranges, sizes, hours and contact details, so you can see who is nearby, who hires as well as sells, and where people in your town go when the party has a theme.
What fancy dress shops offer
Costumes to buy: adults' and children's costumes for every theme, from £10 to £60, with Halloween, World Book Day and Christmas ranges in season.
Costumes to hire: higher-quality outfits for a few days — period, film, uniform, mascot and animal suits — cleaned between hires, with a deposit.
Accessories: wigs, hats, masks, glasses, props and weapons, tights, gloves, boas, jewellery and the make-up and face paint to finish it.
Groups and events: matching outfits for stags, hens and teams, corporate and school events, and theatrical and pantomime hire.
Extras: balloons and party supplies at many shops, mascot hire, and alterations on hire costumes.
Before you buy or hire a costume
- Reserve popular characters and sizes early, especially for Halloween, World Book Day and group bookings.
- For hire, ask the hire period, the deposit and what happens if it is damaged or late.
- Try it on; costume sizing is generous in some ranges and mean in others.
- Ask what accessories are included and what completes the look; the wig usually matters more than the outfit.
- For children, check the age range and the fastenings; a costume they cannot get on and off is no fun.
- For a group, ask about discounts and whether the shop can order matching outfits in.
What fancy dress costs
As a rough guide, children's costumes cost £10 to £30 to buy and adults' £20 to £60, with deluxe and licensed characters £50 to £100; accessories £3 to £25 and wigs £8 to £40; and hire £25 to £60 for a standard costume for a few days, £50 to £120 for period and deluxe outfits and £60 to £150 for mascot and animal suits, with a refundable deposit of £30 to £100. Group and long-hire discounts are common, and cleaning is included in hire.
A hired costume at £40 that looks the part beats a bought one at £40 that looks like a costume.
How do I find a fancy dress shop near me?+
Look at the fancy dress shops listed for your town, check whether they hire as well as sell and the sizes and themes they carry, and read the reviews for the range and the help. Ring ahead for a specific character or a group; the good shops reserve.
Is it better to hire or buy a costume?+
Hire for a one-off party where you want a proper outfit — period, film-accurate, a full animal suit — at £25 to £120 for a few days with a deposit; buy for Halloween, children's dressing up and anything you will wear again, at £10 to £60. Hired costumes are usually better made and the shop cleans them.
How much does costume hire cost?+
Typically £25 to £60 for a standard costume, £50 to £120 for period and deluxe outfits and £60 to £150 for mascot and animal suits, for a hire of two to four days, plus a refundable deposit of £30 to £100. Longer hires and groups get discounts, and accessories are often included.
Do fancy dress shops do World Book Day costumes?+
Yes, and it is one of their busiest weeks: book characters for children from £10 to £30 to buy, with wigs and props, and hire for teachers. Go early in February; the popular characters and sizes are gone by the last week.
Can I get matching costumes for a stag or hen do?+
Yes: most shops stock group themes to buy and can order matching outfits in with a couple of weeks' notice, often at a group discount, and hire sets for larger groups. Give sizes early and confirm the date; weekends in summer are busy.
Do fancy dress shops sell plus sizes?+
Most carry adult costumes to XL or XXL and some to 4XL in the popular themes, and hire ranges often go larger; ask when reserving, and try it on. Sizing varies a lot between manufacturers, so the shop's advice is worth having.
How do I get my business listed?+
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